Johansson backs Liverpool

ByReuters

Published 29/05/2005 at 11:52 GMT

UEFA president Lennart Johansson has dropped the hint yet that Liverpool will be allowed to defend their Champions League title next season. In a report in the Sunday Times, however, Johansson said the matter would have to be resolved as a matter of urgency.

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Liverpool, who beat AC Milan on penalties in Wednesday's final after trailing 3-0 at halftime, did not qualify for next season's tournament after only finishing fifth in the English Premier League.

"The winner should have a chance to defend the title," he said. "We must sit down as a matter of real urgency to see if there is a fair way to make it happen.

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"If there is a rule that harms the tournament, we have to discuss changing that rule."

UEFA have previously said that the decision would ultimately be made by the English Football Association who have consistently maintained that the top four clubs in the Premier League would qualify for the Champions League.

Liverpool's city rivals Everton finished the season in fourth place -- the final qualification spot.

Johansson criticised the FA for their reluctance to take the initiative in dealing with the situation.

"So far the FA are not helping us find a solution. I can ask what the hell is happening in England right now, it seems the Premier League is taking over everything."

A similar situation occured in Spain five years ago when Real Madrid finished fifth in the Primera Liga but won the Champions League.

On that occasion the Spanish authorities entered Madrid into the following season's Champions League at the expense of Real Zaragoza who finished fourth in the league.

Such an outcome in England would be extremely unpopular, particularly with Everton who were in the top four places for much of the season.

According to the Sunday Times, UEFA are expected to resolve the matter within the next 10 days.

UEFA chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson said: "We will arrange a telephone conference because the urgency of the situation is too important to wait until we could get the full (UEFA) committee together."

It had been expected that any decision would not be made until June 17 when UEFA's executive committee are due to meet in Manchester.

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